Every two years, the Olympics brings people together in front of their television screens to watch the world’s best athletes represent their countries and compete in various sports and games. This year’s Summer Olympics will feature a total of 10,500 athletes from 206 countries, and they’ll be competing in 45 different sports.
For over two weeks, you’ll see some of your favorite athletes compete in the air, in the water, on land and in the ring for the Summer Olympics. Follow along as we lay out what sports will be taking place, which athletes will be competing, who’s coaching, where to watch and more.
Where Is It?
The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris. Multiple athletic events, along with the Olympics closing ceremony, will be held at the Stade de France, the country’s largest stadium. Some sports like football, cycling, rhythmic gymnastics and badminton will be held at other stadiums throughout France, including the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome and the Porte de la Chapelle Arena.
When Is It?
The 2024 Olympics will be held from July 26 to Aug. 11, and you can watch live coverage of the opening ceremony starting on July 26 at 12 p.m. EST. The opening ceremony will take place at the Seine River at 1:30 p.m. EST, with athletes participating in the parade and rumors of performances from Celine Dion and Lady Gaga.
What Games Are Included This Year?
There will be 45 different sports and games at the Olympics this year, including gymnastics, tennis, swimming, basketball and track and field. The 2024 Olympics will also feature a new sport: breaking (also known as breakdancing). This will be an official competitive sport in which dancers face off in one-on-one battles with music played by a DJ. It will take place on Aug. 9–10, and several athletes will be representing the United States in this new sport.
Who’s Hosting?
Former American football quarterback Peyton Manning will be hosting the Olympics this year, alongside Kelly Clarkson and NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” announcer Mike Tirico. As far as athletes, you’ll not only see them competing, but will most likely see them in interviews throughout the games. Additionally, Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson will be hosting the Olympics highlight show on Peacock.
Who Will Be There?
Team USA has more than 250 Olympians this year, including athletes like Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky and Simone Manuel. Coco Gauff and Lebron James will be representing Team USA as the official opening ceremony flag bearers. There’s a stellar lineup of coaches as well, including Steve Kerr and Tanisha Wright. University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball coach and former Olympic athlete Dawn Staley will be joining First Lady Jill Biden as part of the presidential delegation at the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
Aside from athletes, plenty of celebrities will also be in attendance to watch and participate in events. Snoop Dogg has been announced as an official Olympic torch bearer, while Kelly Clarkson, Peyton Manning and Kevin Hart will be joining Olympics coverage.
Where Can I Watch It?
The Olympics will be live on multiple streaming platforms, including Sling TV, Direct TV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, Peacock and NBC. Currently, Sling TV is available for an introductory price of $15 for your first month (and $40 a month after), you can read our Sling TV guide to learn the ins-and-outs of the streaming flatform. Fans of sports like basketball, soccer, beach volleyball, water polo and more will be able to watch the events unfold live in 4K.
You can also watch the Olympics live via the France Channel on Amazon Prime Video. New subscribers will get exclusive access to a free 7-day trial of the France Channel when they sign up, which will have all of the sports live.
Where Can I Find the Schedule?
If you’re wondering when specific events will take place, there’s a full schedule that you can view online. A few highlights include marathon swimming from Aug. 8–9, tennis from July 27–Aug. 4 and gymnastics from July 27–Aug. 5.
What to Watch Ahead of the Olympics
If you’re like us, you’ll be watching plenty of movies and documentaries to prepare yourself for the big event. You can watch “Power of the Dream” on Amazon Prime Video to learn about how the women of the WNBA inspire change within politics. Amazon also has “Uninterrupted Top Class Tennis” from executive producers LeBron James and Sloane Stephens, which teaches you more about tennis players on their way to becoming pros. On Netflix, you can follow gymnast Simone Biles as she guides viewers through her journey to the Olympics while discussing her personal life and mental health in “Simone Biles Rising.”
For movies, we recommend watching Zendaya hit the tennis courts in “Challengers,” or opt for classic sports movies like “Bend It Like Beckham,” “Love & Basketball,” “She’s The Man,” “Creed” and “The Blind Side.” If you love boxing, your eyes will be glued to the screen watching Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo and Steve Carell in “Foxcatcher.” And although it’s more of a Winter Olympics watch, we love Margot Robbie’s performance in “I, Tonya,” a black comedy film about figure skater Tonya Harding.
